Malloy asks for increase in truck weight limits for transport of salt

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Friday announced that he has submitted a modified emergency disaster declaration to allow an increase in vehicle weight limits on the transportation of salt. The provision expands on the official disaster declaration Malloy requested Thursday night to address a potential municipal salt shortage.

Malloy's request would permit the state Department of Transportation to authorize a temporary gross vehicle weight increase and, in turn, allow the agency to provide expedited emergency assistance to the state's municipalities and tribal nations most in need of road salt, according to Malloy's statement.

Malloy has also activated the state's severe cold weather protocol in anticipation of overnight temperatures in the teens and single digits on Saturday and Sunday.

The cold weather protocol activation will go into effect Friday night and last until Monday morning, when the state expects more seasonable Connecticut temperatures.

"I will have state agencies coordinating with 2-1-1 and Connecticut's network of shelters to ensure that the state's most vulnerable people are protected from exposure to the severe cold," Malloy said in a statement.